8 Convertibles You Can Buy for Less Than $30,000

Even if the faithful Miata were an additional $5,000 over its starting price of $23,470, it'd still be the no-brainer of this list. A tight and playful chassis combines with a fuel-efficient inline-4 engine (167 horsepower, 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway), nearly 50/50 weight distribution for great handling, and rear-wheel drive to keep alive the classic British sports-car recipe cooked up so many years ago. It's great whether your intention is to have the wind blowing through your hair on the way to the supermarket or to do some amateur racing. If you have some extra change, the power hardtop is an excellent option. Mazda managed to squeeze the whole operation in without a sacrifice in trunk space and a weight gain of less than 80 pounds.

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If you haven't looked at the Ford Mustang in awhile, you really should. For $27,310, you can have a 3.7-liter 305-horsepower V6 engine that returns 31 mpg highway, which is something of a miracle — never mind that the roof comes off. For that price, you even get selectable power-steering assist, too. Change the feel from sporty to comfortable at the touch of a button. Jam in three of your closest friends and there's no better way to do some beach cruising.

Compare: Ford Mustang vs. Chevrolet Camaro vs. Volkswagen Eos

We chose the MINI Cooper Roadster over the MINI Cooper convertible to be a little different, but really there's a notable sacrifice in both price and practicality. That said, the Cooper S Roadster is faster than its convertible counterpart. In the Roadster S, the 1.6-liter engine benefits from turbocharging to produce 181 horsepower. We'd opt for the quick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. The combination makes for a car that is more than quick enough, hitting 60 mph in 6.7 seconds and muscling its little self on to a top speed of 141 mph. Oh, and you'll see 35 mpg highway, too, with 27 mpg city. Prices start at an admittedly lofty $27,350.

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While we're on the topic of small cars, we should note that Fiats once again are available in the United States, and the company has been kind enough to bring its successful 500 to our shores. For just $19,500, you can drive one with a retractable top. The car, which can only be described as cute, sports a 1.4-liter engine that churns out just over 100 horsepower and offers a choice of either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. The story here isn't in the power, of course, but rather the fuel economy. When equipped with a manual transmission, the little Fiat returns 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway. That makes for a lot of shopping before a refuel.

View Pictures:  Fiat 500C Cabriolet

Didn't expect to see this one, did you? What can we say — it's a convertible, after all, and at $22,045 it's less than $30 grand. Besides, you can't have a list of just seven cars. Despite having grown significantly in girth in its 2007 redesign, this old icon continues to be no less appealing. Its 3.6-liter 285-horsepower V6 engine is years ahead of the previous engine, and the interior can even be called livable now. Naturally, the Wrangler comes standard with 4-wheel drive, which can make your convertible adventures considerably more interesting. As you might expect, the gas mileage is horrible, at just 17 mpg city/21 mpg highway.

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This is the where our list starts to get a little questionable. When eight cars in total meet the criteria, the rundown is less a list of "best," and more one of "in existence." A disclaimer having duly been dropped, let's meet the $26,775 Chrysler 200 Convertible. Its double-overhead-cam 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, which makes 173 horsepower and returns 20 mpg city/31 mpg highway, is a bit weak. There is a more powerful 6-cylinder option, but it costs five grand more. The premium, in our opinion, isn't worth it.

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The Eclipse Spyder seats four, looks like a flattened jelly bean and, at $27,999, sports a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine with 162 horsepower. (A V6 option is available, but it costs $32,828, so that's out of the running.) The inline-4 comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission (those are apparently still made) and manages 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway. On the plus side, you get heated leather seats as standard and a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo that's pretty rockin'. Also a plus: The power top is down in just 19 seconds.

Sorry for this recommendation, but for $17,690, you get a very, very small car that has a top speed of 90 mph, goes from zero to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds, and has a 1.0-liter 70-horsepower engine and a 5-speed automated manual transmission that will make you wish you were walking. Now, once you've stopped worrying about being run over in traffic, there are a couple of pluses. Because it's just 98.4 inches long, you can park it practically anywhere. You'll also get 34 mpg city/38 mpg highway.

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For more information on any vehicle in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Mazda MX-5 Miata
-Ford Mustang Convertible
-MINI Cooper S Roadster
-Fiat 500C
-Jeep Wrangler
-Chrysler 200 Convertible
-Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
-smart passion cabriolet

Compare: All 8 Cars

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.

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